Pressure power recovery device

Abstract

A power recovery device, including an electroactive polymer membrane; an actuator capable of moving along a first direction non-parallel to the mid-plane of the membrane; a member for converting the motion of the actuator into a stretching of the membrane along at least one second direction of the mid-plane of the membrane; and means for biasing the membrane including an electret.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A power recovery device comprising:
 an electroactive polymer membrane; 
 an actuator capable of moving along a first direction non-parallel to the mid-plane of the membrane; 
 a member for converting the motion of the actuator into a stretching of the membrane along at least one second direction of the mid-plane of the membrane; 
 means for biasing the membrane comprising an electret; and 
 means for returning to an idle position. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said member further converts the motion of the actuator into a stretching of the membrane along at least one third direction of the mid-plane of the membrane. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said member comprises at least two first rigid arms, mobile in rotation around a first axis forming one block with the actuator and approximately orthogonal to the first and second directions, the first two arms being connected to the membrane respectively in two different points of the second direction. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2 , wherein said member comprises at least two second rigid arms, mobile in rotation around a second axis solid with the actuator and approximately orthogonal to the first and third directions, the first two arms being connected to the membrane respectively in two different points of the third direction. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electret is positioned under the membrane and forms a surface approximately coinciding, in top view, with the membrane, and having a corrugated relief in planes orthogonal to the membrane. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electret is made of charged Teflon. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electret is deposited on a support having a corrugated relief in planes orthogonal to the membrane. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a stack of a first electrode, of an electroactive polymer film, and of a second electrode, the electret being arranged between the second electrode and said film. 
     
     
       9. A push-button switch comprising the device of  claim 1 .